I am writing this while enjoying cool breezes and an awesome view of the ocean in beautiful Long Beach, Calif. Most of the country, as well as my home an hour up the road are HOT, so this 80-degree weather on the California coast is awesome.
This week I have been working with Jeff Anderton from Video Farm TV, promoting and reporting the SAAC Show (Specialty Advertising Association of California). As I have done with other events, like Promotions East (now to become Expo East), we share some of the highlights of this event to our audience around the country. What’s different here is the revolutionary trade show app Video Farm created for the SAAC Show. Technology takes time to develop but this should become a standard productivity tool for trade shows in the future. I believe the launch of this app is a technology turning point in where trade shows are going.
This leads to the question of this Rant: What will trade shows of the future look like and where is our industry going? Wherever we are going, we are getting there fast. And most business leaders will agree it looks like we will be mobile in going there. Click here for my video rant on this topic.
According to some reports, over half the population is using smart phones. How could we function without getting email on a mobile device? Mobile makes us more efficient. Just this past week, I was at Starbucks when I received an email from a client who needed a rush order in hands in three days. It was another GILTB moment (God I Love This Business). In this case, I was thankful that I had my iPad, which enabled me to find the needed products while sipping a latte. Moving quickly, I got the order. Had I needed to wait until I returned to the office for this research, I would have lost some significant business. Mobile technology helped me make money!
Mobile technology is the new standard and those who don’t embrace it will be left behind. To that end, I am happy to report the all new FreePromoTips.com launching in September will be fully mobile optimized. Video Farm TV is working on a FreePromoTips mobile app that will enable industry content and breaking news to be pushed out to various platforms very quickly.
This conversation ties back into something we have talked about before, which is the future of our industry. Some time ago at a SAAC dinner meeting I found myself in a discussion will some colleagues regarding age. The question came up about whether our industry is exciting enough for todays game-playing, online, tech-focused generation. My own 16-year-old son is an example of the next generation. He rarely watches TV and kids don’t really use e-mail. They text to communicate … even within the same house! My son edited a video I put together with clips from FreePromoTips Raving Fans. His comment was, “Dad, your friends are old.” I guess he’s right … but heck, they are my friends and I am kind of old!
This is actually a very exciting time in our industry. The next generation understands the creative elements of promotional marketing and what it brings to the business world will be attracted to our industry. It is a good career choice for dynamic, creative future business leaders. We are seeing new tools emerge that make us more efficient. Technology gives us more time to do what we like to do away from work and it’s driving where our industry is going.
On a personal note, when I am away from the office I like to ride my motorcycles, play music (I’m a hack drummer) and spend time with my family. I work hard and like to play hard. To that end, I am VERY excited that on September 16th, I’m leaving for the Bahamas on a 4-night leaving “Sail to SUCCESS!” cruise from Florida. My good friend Ron Baron has put together a trip with one short learning session each day and it’s going to be awesome. The cruise theme is “To Be Truly Successful…You Must Work LESS!”
The cost is less than $80.00 a day including port taxes and there is STILL time to join us. As part of our group, you will get a double category upgrade. Click here for more information. To get where we want to go in business, it’s important to take some time off. This is a great way to relax and still be productive on an awesome ship that will benefit you personally and professionally.
Lastly, I want to add that forward-thinking people who understand what they need to do to thrive in this marketplace will drive the future of our industry. Those who want to drive on the road leading to a better business and life will benefit from FreePromoTips SuccessTracks Online Learning Experiences, which are brought to you by: Fields, Prime Line, Warwick and Newton Manufacturing.
We are very excited about a SuccessTrack we call “Conversations on Topics that Matter”. Presenters facilitate a discussion on a variety of lifestyle topics. Our inaugural session featured Rod Brown, CAS from MadeToOrder sharing from a little island in Washington on why he takes two months off in the summer. Click here to view the recording. This session is brought to you by Magna-Tel.
Make it a great day!
Jeff Solomon, MAS-MASI is affiliated with a large distributor company. The FreePromoTips.com website and e-newsletters he publishes are packed with beneficial information and exclusive FREE offers from a few forward-thinking supplier companies. Don’t miss out on what’s happening! Opt in to receive their e-newsletters! LIKE their page on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Jeff can also be found on Linkedin.
